Vacuum cleaner



F. LEHMANN VACUUM CLEANER April 18, 1933.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1931 April 18, 1933.

F. LEI- IMANN VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov.'l7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Iwrcv/T efima 111/ l April 18, 1933. F. LEHMANN 1,903,867

' VACUUM CLEANER I Filed N v. 17. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZAf/ZM F. LEHMANN VACUUM CLEANER April 18, 1933.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 17, 1931 [171/0 why.-

Patented Apr. 18, 1933 PATENT OFFICE FRANZ LEHMANN, OF ZURICH,SWITZERLAND VACUUM CLEANER Application filed November 17, 1931, SerialNo. 575,620, and in Germany November 28, 1930.

Beating plays an important part in the removal of dust by suction, andfor this reason, it is advantageous to furnish the brush rollers of avacuum cleaner with beating members, which are adapted rapidly to beaton the surface to becleaned as the roller rotates.

This invention relates to a roller device for vacuum cleaners, whichdiffers from the known beating rollers of vacuum-cleaners principally inthat the roller is not necessarily provided with special beatingmembers, but has itself at the same time a considerable beating action.For this purpose, the roller 5 is arranged with radial play on itsdriving shaft and is connected therewith by a driving device, in such away that the said roller is carried round by the rotation of the shaft,while being capable of being thrown as a whole outwardly in a radialdirection with respect to the shaft, thus giving rise to a beatingaction. The resistance of the surface to be cleaned and the centrifugalforce are in such mutual relationship to one another during therunningof the roller, that the roller member not only rotates like abrush roller but effects a rapid beating action.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, it will now bedescribed by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate a number of embodiments of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show one embodiment of the invention in section andpartial plan respectively. Figure 3 shows a detail thereof. Figures 4, 5and 6 show other embodiments. Figure 7 represents another form of theroller body. Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 show some otherconstructions. Figures 16 and 17 show other forms for the roller body.Figures 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 illustrate still other embodiments of theinvention.

Figure 23 shows the arrangement of the beater roller of Figure 1 in avacuum cleaner.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a shaft a is provided with a cylindricalbushing b rigidly secured thereto, which carries a pulley wheel 0,adapted to be driven through the interwhich is provided with beatinglugs (Z is mounted with some radial play on the shaft a or itscylindrical bushing b; It is adapted to be rotated by means of acoupling device, consisting of two driving straps e of leather 65 or thelike, one of which is illustrated in plan in Figure 3, and each of whichis secured b one of its longitudinal edges to the cylindrical bushing bby rivets or the like, its free longitudinal edge being arranged to beheld in position by the centrifugal force due to rotation of the shafta, so as frictionally to engage theinner circumference of the rollermember d. To ensure even contact with the member cl, the straps e areprovided with slits in their free portions, in 'the manner illustratedin Figure 3.

The roller member all is illustrated as comprising'separate annularmembers, which are separated by narrow air gaps 03 It may, however,consist of a singlemember.

As soon as the roller is rapidly rotated, the driving straps e areforced outwards, under the action of centrifugal force, against theinner wall of the roller member d, so that, acting as a coupling, theycause this latter to commence rotating rapidly. When it strikes againstthe carpet which it is desired to clean, the roller (Z effects aforcible beating action with its beating lugs (1 as it is forced out ofits circular path by striking against the carpet. During the usualcleansing operation, the roller member d rotates more slowly than theshaft (1, since it is continually braked by striking against the carpet,and the straps 6 thus exert a dragging and pulling action on the innerwall of the roller (I. As seen from Figure 23, air and the whirling dustcontained therein is sucked away from below the beating roller 41 aswell as through the gaps (1 thereof (Figure 2) by the suction chamber toof the cleaner as the beating roller cl strikes continually against thecarpet.

The roller d is preferably constructed from rubber with a textilefilling. Any other suitable material may, however, be used instead ofrubber. Moreover, the core of the roller member may be constructed fromheavy material, and the. outer shell thereof from soft, lightermaterial.

Figure 4 illustrates a roller member d, which ma comprise a number ofadjacent cylindrical annular members, which are loosely mounted on theshaft (1, being carried along during the rotation of the latter by thedriving straps e, and are provided with a number of perforations f. Inthis case also, the resistance of the surface to be cleaned, owing towhich the roller seeks continually to move out of its circular path,comes under consideration for the production of a beating action.

When only one driving strap 6 is used, the beating action of the rollermember may be considerably increased by the eccentric position of theroller member caused thereby. The suction action may be increased, ifdesired, by the provision of a greater number of straps.

The weight of the straps also influences the beatin action, as heavystraps have a greater centri ugal action than light ones, and thesetransmit the centrifugal force to the roller.

The beating force of the roller can also be increased by giving theinner wall of the roller member d a non-circular shape, as illustrated,by way of example, in Figure 7. With such an inner wall, the couplingforce of the driving straps is also considerably increased.

The driving straps may be made, instead of from leather, from any othersuitabe material. They may be secured separately or again spirally tothe shaft, in order to produce an uneven position or beating by themembers of the roller.

The driving straps may be provided separately for each annular member ofthe roller member or may be constructed from one piece, as illustratedin Figure 3. r

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, between eachtwo annular beating members of the divided roller 01 a brush-ring g isarranged, which is also loose y mounted on the shaft a, but may, ifdesired, be rigidly secured thereto.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figurefi, the roller member d isadapted to be operated, instead of by driving straps, by means ofcoupling lugs 6 provided on the cylindrical bushing b and adapted toco-operate with coupling lugs d on the inner wall of.

each part of the roller (1.

It will be evident that various other forms of coupling may be used forthis type of beating roller. The heating roller may, for instance, becaused to rotate by lateral coupling pressure, e. g. by a spring, whichis secured to the end -cover of the device, this end-cover being rigidlysecured to the shaft.

Figure 8 shows a beating roller provided with four longitudinal grooves,in each of which a brush-rail h is located, which serves as a driving orcoupling member, these brushrails being secured to ether to form alantern frame connected to t e shaft a, so that the beating roller makesas many rotations as the shaft a, but has free play in a radial sense inall directions, in order that the centrifugal force may be able to comeinto effect and cause a beating action.

The coupling in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 9is similar. In this case, the ribs 2' of the cylindrical bushing I)extend into longitudinal slots in the internal wall of the roller d,which is provided with beating lugs. In this case also the rollermember, which may be continuous axially or divided transverse to theaxis, is movable radially with respect to the bushing b.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the roller d isagain coupled to the bushing b by means of a driving strap 0 and isprovided with rounded beating lugs d Further, as illustrated in Figure11, the roller may be eccentrically turned, its bore normally beingco-axial with the axis of the shaft.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 12, on the periphery of theroller 05 centrally or cccentrically mounted beating rollers m, m areprovided, and such beating rollers are also provided in the embodimentillustrated in Figure 13, in which these beating rollers are mountedcentrally or eccentrically between wa'l members (1 of the roller d. InFigure 13 a further embodiment is illustrated, in which the beatingroller m is loosely mounted on its axis with considerable play,similarly to a quoit on a peg. In these embodiments, as-well as theradial transverse movement of the entire roller, a separate r0- tationof the beating members m, m, m, in

some cases centrifugal action, has also to be dealt with.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 14, in which the roTler d isco-axial with the shaft axis, the bushing 11 itself is hollow andeccentric; further, as illustrated in Figure 15, the eccentricity of theshaft on the two sides of the pulley wheel 0 may differ by 180.

Further forms of the roller are illustrated in Figures 16 and 17.

Incases where the beating members have a beating action in addition tothat of the roller, these beating members may be constructed centrallyor eccentrically, as stated. as rollers or quoits, or they may be somounted that they oscilate and swing, in accordance with the embodimentillustrated in Figure 22. The shape and mode of mounting of thesebeating members may, of course, be varied in many respects. The samealso applies to the beating roller itself, so long as its radial playwith respect to the shaft is permitted.

Figures 18, 19 and 20 illustrate respectively embodiments of theinvention in which the beating members comprise continubus beating railsp, as shown in Figure 18, or divided rails, as shown in Figure 19, orheating rollers g, as shown in Figure 20, which are, for example,mounted spirally, but could be arranged in any other suitable manner.The number and subdivision of these beating members on thecircumference'of the main roller may vary. The beating rails may, asindicated in Figure 21 be formed integrally with the roller, or theymaybe secured thereto by screws, rivets, or any other means.

In order to simplify the mounting of heating members in the form of longrollers, it may be advantageous, in accordance with the example .shownon the right of Figure 20, to divide these beating rollers 9 intoseveral groups 011 the roller and, if necessary, to subdivide thisroller itself;

In Figure 22, not only are the beaters s swingably mounted, but also thebrushes t. The latter may also be arranged to be fixed or rotatablearound their own axis and in either case may be arranged in a winding,

spiral, zig-zag or straight line along the roller.

It may further be mentioned that the core of-the roller shaft may be ofmetal and its shell or the bushing of the shaft of rubber, or anothermaterial which damps impact and noise, for example the shaft may have arubber lining such as indicated at a in Figure 8.

The roller members may have a play with respect to the shaft amountingto and exceeding 10 mm., so that, during the beating of carpets,differences in height similarly amounting to and exceeding 10 mm. canstill be beaten. The fact that in this case the roller members can makevery wide oscillations and, when striking the carpet, always adjustthemselves to the necessary height renders it possible for very thickcarpets with a high pile and also hard and thin carpets with short pileor none at all (cocoa, boucl, etc.) to be equally well beaten andcleaned, without the necessity for lowering or raising the brush rolleror the entire dust-sucking nozzle with the roller. It is furtheradvantageous for the roller toremain stationary,

when, during the process of cleaning carpets,

the end fringes thereof are inadvertently sucked into the dust-suckingnozzle, and if it is coupled for rotation by straps 6, it will thusautomatically cease its rotation, whilst the shaft a is permitted tocontinue its rotation. Upon drawing the dust-sucker away from the fringeof the carpet, the roller commences to operate again. The slidingcoupling has.

thus the great advantage, as compared with the fixed coupling, that thefringes and the wool of carpets cannot be torn out.

What I claim is 1. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary driving shaft, amovable beating roller mounted with radial play 011 said shaft andcoupling means on said driving shaft adapted to engage the beatingroller so as to carry the beating roller round about by the rotation ofthe shaft while allowing it to be thrown as a whole outwardly in aradial direction with respect to the shaft. I

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary driving shaft, a movable beating rollermounted with radial play on said shaft and a rib and groove couplingbetween said driving shaft and heating roller so arranged as to carrythe beating roller round about by the rotation of the shaft whileallowing it to be thrown as a whole outwardly in a radial direction withrespect to the shaft.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary driving shaft, a movable beating rollermounted with radial play on said shaft and at least one coupling strapsecured by one end to the shaft and free at the other end, said strapbeing so arranged as to be forced with frictional pressure against theinner surface of the roller owing to the centrifugal force due torotation of the shaft.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary driving shaft, a movable beating rollermounted with radial play on said shaft, beating members movably mountedon the periphery of said roller, and coupling means between said drivingshaft and beating roller so arranged as to carry the beating rollerround about by the rotation of the shaft while allowing it to be thrownas a Whole outwardly in a radial direction with respect to the shaft.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a rotary driving shaft, a movable beating rollermounted with radial play on said shaft and comprising alternate rollersections and loose brushrings, and coupling means on said driving shaftadapted to engage said beating roller so arranged as to carry thebeating roller round about by the rotation of the shaft while allowingit to be thrown as a whole outwardly in a radial direction with respectto the shaft.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 9th day ofNovember 1931.

FRANZ LEHMANN.

